Trials - Greater Belize Media

Stepfather Pleads Guilty and Remanded for Physical Abuse of Minor

Tonight, a violent stepfather is spending his first night on remand at the Belize Central Prison after pleading guilty to physically abusing a three-year-old child earlier this week. Footage of the repulsive incident sparked public outrage on Monday when thirty-three-year-old Devain Flores was seen getting off a motorcycle before kicking and hitting the little boy repeatedly. The Belize City laborer, who stands accused of mistreating the infant, appeared unrepresented before Magistrate Baja Shoman. The revolting episode prompted Commissioner of Police Chester Williams to show up to the lower courts this afternoon in his capacity as a prosecutor where Flores was brought up on two counts of cruelty to a child. Following Flores’ arraignment, ComPol Williams spoke with the media and explained why the charges against the perpetrator were later upgraded.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“It’s a very important matter I must say, it involves a three-year-old who was being abused, obviously by a thirty-three-year-old, and I think that when we have situations of such, the police department, as well as any other organization that has to do with upholding the rights of children, we must do our best in making sure that those persons are brought to justice. Over and over, we are seeing that our young people are being abused in various ways, shape or form and as a responsible organization we will always do our best in working in conjunction with other organizations such as UNICEF, Department of Youth Services, NCFC, et cetera. So we have to make sure we do what we can to protect our children, so we must send a strong signal to abusers of children that we are not playing, we are serious about this.”

Reporter

“Explain the process of how this was upgraded from common assault to these more serious charges.”

Chester Williams

“Well after having viewed the video footage, myself, I believe that the charge of common assault was inadequate. It was basically putting a slap on the wrist of the perpetrator and so I had directed the investigators to further work to gather more evidence and record more statements. That was done yesterday and I must commend the officers from the Domestic Violence Unit for responding quickly to my request. Having obtained the request from them, I communicated with the Director of Public Prosecutions and we both agreed that the charges should be upgraded from common assault to that of abusing a child, basically.”

Belize City Woman Allegedly Obtained $121,000 By Deception

Earlier today, Doris Grant was arraigned on forty counts of obtaining property by deception. The Reggae Street Resident appeared before Magistrate Lois Young along with her attorney, Richard “Dickie” Bradley. Grant was read fourteen counts of theft, fourteen counts of obtaining property by deception and twelve counts of obtaining money transfer by deception. Allegations are that between January first, 2022, and July 2022, she stole over one hundred and twenty-one thousand dollars by money transfer or obtaining property by deception or through theft. It is believed that on January tenth, 2022, she obtained twenty thousand dollars by deception through a bank transfer. Further allegations are that between January first, 2022, to November eight, 2022, she dishonestly appropriated thirty-one thousand dollars that was the property of a real estate company based in the U.S. Additionally, it is alleged that between January tenth and April first, 2022, she stole eighteen thousand dollars from the same company, along with another stolen nine thousand dollars. As we said, the amounts that Grant allegedly received adds up to more than one hundred and twenty-one thousand dollars. There was no objection to bail by the prosecution who simply asked for certain conditions to be placed on Grant. Magistrate Lois Young offered her bail in the sum of fifty thousand dollars, plus one surety of the same or two sureties of twenty-five thousand dollars each. No plea was taken from Grant, and she was also able to meet bail.

Kurtis Belisle is Charged for Manslaughter, 11 Months Later

Thirty-two-year-old Kurtis Belisle has been arraigned on three counts of manslaughter by negligence for killing three female passengers who were inside his vehicle when it collided into a tree. The charges come almost eleven months after the incident took place near mile ten on the Philip Goldson Highway that claimed the lives of twenty-seven-year-old Virginia Davis, seventeen-year-old Dorothy Davis, and seventeen-year-old Torrie Gentle. Belisle was driving a Ford Ranger pickup when he lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a tree. Tonight, Belisle is out on bail after appearing before Magistrate Lois Young. Bail was offered in the sum of five thousand dollars.

Albert Jones Sr. Freed After Serving Time for Murder

Convicted prisoner, fifty-one-year-old Albert Jones Senior is tonight at home with his family after six years on remand for murder. Jones pleaded guilty to manslaughter for the chopping death of Alaine Garcia whose body was never found. Jones suffers from mental illness and alcoholism. Today, when he appeared in the High Court before Justice Nigel Pilgrim, his prison sentence began at fifteen years. Taking into account the time he has served on remand, as well as a six-year deduction, Jones was informed that he was a free man. Following the outcome of the trial, we spoke with attorney Marcel Cardona who represented Jones in court.

Marcel Cardona, Attorney-at-law

“I believe it has been two years or more that we’ve been back and forth from court. I believe that probably we’ve been to court maybe about forty times or more, back and forth on different matters along the way, but I am very, very pleased that today, Albert Emmanuel Jones Sr. has been granted his freedom by the Supreme Court, the High Court of Belize. Justice Nigel Pilgrim has decided this morning that he believes that in Albert Jones’ circumstances, a sentence of six years is proper and given that Mr. Albert Jones has already served six years in jail, then it’s basically time served. And Albert Jones was therefore ordered to be released immediately.”

Reporter

“Give us an idea of this murder that he was accused of and brought down to manslaughter.”

Marcel Cardona

“Well yes, this basically, he stood accused of the murder of a gentleman who, as the evidence demonstrated in the case or showed in the case, the very gentleman who he is accused of murdering was the gentleman who had physically abused his kid, Albert Jones Jr., about two and a half months earlier.”

Oscar Selgado Asks Court to “Render Justice with Mercy”

In early March, the High Court found fifty-four-year-old attorney, Oscar Selgado guilty of abetment to commit murder. Today, Selgado was back in court along with his attorney Arthur Saldivar for the continuation of his sentence mitigation hearing. Nine-character witnesses have been called over the last two mitigation sessions to testify on Selgado’s behalf. Today, Selgado himself testified from the stand. During his testimony, Selgado sought forgiveness from Marlyn Barnes for the suffering she has been through, though during his cross examination it was made clear that he is not admitting to hiring someone to kill her. Selgado is clinging on to his innocence and that probably has something to do with the fact that the verdict will be appealed. Selgado practically threw himself at the mercy of the court, sharing that while this verdict may mean the end of his career as an attorney, he has all intentions to continue being a breadwinner for his family and a productive citizen to society. Selgado told the court that he came from humble beginnings and was raised by a father who worked as a truck driver for the government. He also told the court that at some point in his life he had to generate the necessary funds to send his younger siblings to high school. He further explained that he continues to financially support his diabetic mother, as well as one of his sisters and seven nieces and nephews after his brother-in-law passed away. Selgado did not forget to mention that he did sixty-two court appointed pro bono cases in a span of ten years. Among the character witnesses called to testify today were attorney Michelle Trapp Zuniga, Senior Counsel Hubert Elrington, Selgado’s sister, a childhood friend, and a neighbor. We heard from Selgado’s attorney, Arthur Saldivar outside the courtroom.

Arthur Saldivar, Attorney for Oscar Selgado

“It is not only talking the talk but walking the walk and he has shown the court in every instance that from humble beginning he applied himself, qualified himself and gave back to the community he came from. These are commendable things, these are things that go to his credit, mitigating factors if you will and by virtue of that he is giving himself the best chance of the court’s consideration. How much will It assist? We don’t know until that time comes, but I am hoping that it does move the needle in his direction. I am hoping we reach a point where a fair judgement can be meted out, one that is clear that there is a penalty to be paid for the offense committed while striking the balance of ensuring that a person who has made a mistake from the court’s point of view is given every opportunity to be rehabilitated and returned to society in a way that he can still make his contributions to the benefit of that society. Mitigation by its definition is trying to reduce the impact of whatever is to come so in this particular instance Mr. Selgado is applying for mercy and we are seeking to give the court every instance where it can look to apply its mercy. It reminds me of Porche in the Merchant of Venice, Shakespear, “The Quality of Mercy is Not Strained”.

A Businessman is Acquitted of Coast Guard’s Murder

Businessman Leon Perez has been acquitted of the murder of Elston Morter. On Independence Day 2021, Morter, a coast guard seaman, was stabbed to death in Hattieville during a misunderstanding in the American Site area of Hattieville. Perez, who maintained his innocence from the beginning, was freed of the charge earlier today in the courtroom of Justice Candace Nanton. During the trial, crown called a witness to the stand who testified that Perez wasn’t the one who inflicted the deadly stab wounds on Morter. According to Perez’s witness, on the day in question, his wife informed him of an altercation taking place outside of their residence. When he went outside to enquire about the altercation, he observed an individual take a knife out of Perez’s pocket, ran behind Morter and proceeded to stab him. Justice Nanton noted that while the court went through the guidelines of Perez’s case, it also considered the case of the crown. After deliberating, Justice Nanton acknowledged that a case was indeed made out by the crown; however, in her view, there was reasonable doubt put forward by the defense which is why she found Perez not guilty.

Louis Gillett Sentenced to Life in Prison for Murder

Businessman Alvin Godfrey was shot inside his place of business in April 2003, during an attempted robbery. He died several months later. The man who pulled the trigger has remained incarcerated for more than twenty years and on Wednesday, convicted murderer Louis Gillett was given a life sentence without the possibility of parole until he has served twenty-nine years in prison. Justice Nigel Pilgrim considered the sentence and, despite the fact that Gillett has served more than half of the sentence and is eligible for parole, he has shown little reform, having only enrolled in one rehab program since being locked up.

Former Coast Guard Seaman is Acquitted of Arson

Thirty-two-year-old Emmanuel McFadzean was accused of causing a fire that destroyed three coast guard vessels back in 2022. He was subsequently charged with arson after it was alleged that he was stealing fuel from one of the boats. Today, the former coast guard seaman was acquitted of arson when a jury of nine returned a unanimous verdict of not guilty. Tears of joy ran down McFadzean’s face as he embraced his daughters following the High Court decision. This afternoon, attorney Bryan Neal said there was insufficient evidence to prove his client guilty of the charge that was brought against him.

Bryan Neal, Attorney-at-law

“This jury really considered the evidence in this case and returned a not guilty verdict because, simply put, there was no evidence of arson against this coast guard, or former coast guard, because I understand that he was relieved of his position last year.”

Reporter

“So tell us, give us an idea of how the vessels, as said in the evidence, or the alleged evidence against Mr. MacFadzean that the Boston Whaler, valued at over six hundred thousand dollars went up in flames. They alleged that he da di man weh dehn sih di run from it and he was charged for arson. What was actually those evidence to support that the jurors saw…”

Bryan Neal

“If there was any evidence, I didn’t see it, and that was our submission. Mr. Arnold and I represented Mr. McFadzean. There was no evidence that he was stealing gas, there was no evidence that he was lighting fuse, there was no evidence that he was doing anything negligently to cause the fire and the jury considered it. The only evidence came from the fire expert and he conceded quite honorably that the fire was accidental and that nobody could have started the fire. So I think the jury, that weighed heavily on the jury’s mind and they returned, in my mind, the right verdict. Justice has been served.”

Kenrick Longsworth Stands Trial for Murder of 3-year-old Boy

On January tenth, 2020, a three-year-old boy died inside a house on Lovely Lane, here in Belize City. He was reportedly beaten to death and sexually assaulted by his stepfather. The child’s siblings, ages two and four, were also badly beaten and left inside the building. News of the horrific incident led to public outrage and a manhunt ensued for the capture of Kenrick Longsworth, the alleged perpetrator. Earlier today, the thirty-one-year-old suspect appeared before the High Court where is standing trial for the murder of Mark Francisco Teul. This evening, the child’s mother, Zema Requena, was called to the witness stand by the Director of Public Prosecutions. Under oath, she told the court that on the day in question, she left home and went with a neighbor. Upon returning home, she saw Longsworth sitting on a bucket and he appeared visibly upset. When she inquired what was wrong, he reportedly told her that the next time she leaves, she should take along her children. Requena proceeded towards the house and made the grisly discovery inside the bedroom. Under cross examination Zema Requena became very emotional when defense attorney Andrew Bennett suggested that she was the one who physically abused the children because Longsworth had broken up with her earlier that day. Requena subsequently stormed out of the courtroom before Justice Sylvester called her back. She was cautioned that her behavior was disrespectful to the court. The murder trial by judge without jury will continue on Thursday.

Uncle is Sentenced to 19 Years for Sexual Assault of Minor Niece

A sixty-four-year-old uncle who was convicted of sexual assault and incest against his thirteen-year-old niece will serve a nineteen-year sentence at the Belize Central Prison. During his sentencing appearance this morning, the uncle had nothing to say and in mitigation plea, he did not call on a character witness to speak on his behalf. On March eighth, 2024, the elderly man was found guilty of all four counts following a full trial before Justice Candace Nanton in the High Court. The crimes for which he was convicted were committed in 2019 and 2020.